Qiasgow Single-deckers Designed for Rapid Loading
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pROVISION for increased passenger comfort, greater convenience in collecting fares and quicker loading, is apparent in the design of 42 single-deck bodies which are being constructed by Glasgow Corporation in its Larkfield works. The vehicles are intended chiefly for suburban and city routes, where low bridges prevent the use of double-deckers.
The Daimler CVD chassis, powered
by the maker's 8k-litre oil engine, gives rapid acceleration and ample maximum speed for such routes.
The 33-seater body has a front entrance and rear exit, both fitted with power-operated folding doors controlled by push-buttons positioned conveniently for the conductor and driver. A small Reavel air compressor feeds the two Peters door engines, which are mounted below floor level. This air system is independent of the braking system, which is operated by vacuum.
The body framing is supplied by Metal Sections, Ltd. Birmingham, and simple straight panels are attached to it. Interior head room is 6 ft. 6 ins., which is nearly 6 ins, more than normal, and although a full seat width of 32 ins, is given, the centre gangway is 20 ins, wide at seat level, and 22 ins. wide at the level of the seat top rails. The Dapta tubular-framed seats have Dunlopillo cushions.
Vertical stainless-steel hand rails are clipped to alternate near-side and offside seat top rails. As they float in rubber-bushed brackets fixed to the ceiling, the normal resilience of the seat frame is retained and no stresses are transferred to the roof. Draught partitions are built at the entrance and egit.
Each side window has an upper sliding section. and there are clear Perspex panels between the window top rail and the cant-rail.
The doors, draught partitions and front bulkhead are glazed with Claytonrite self-sealing weather strip, and as the sealing rubber fits directly on the panels, no pans are required. A neat finish is afforded at little expense. All glass is arranged to present a flush exterior, which is desirable in buses that are washed in mechanical plants.
There are four roof ventilators, whilst a Clayton heater housed in the front canopy supplies temperaturecontrolled air to the saloon and the driver's cab.